Food and Wine Products

If someone asks you: "Do you know tuber magnatum pico?", maybe your reply would not be immediate, but you would probably know for sure the one called white truffle. It is actually the same product: it is the most valuable truffle type, both from a gastronomic and a purely economic point of view. In fact, because of the very high cost, it is considered as a precious diamond. Surely among the most popular ones is the white truffle of Alba (CN), a town located in the province of Cuneo in Piedmont region, which holds the record for the oldest White Truffle Fair which takes place between October and November.

When it comes to bread, Italy's know-how goes back centuries. From north to south, every town can boast its own traditional bread, the most famous of which includes that made in one of Italy's most beautiful regions, Basilicata: we're talking about bread from Matera. Known for its ancient habitations literally set in stone, the sassi, and for its rupestrian churches, Matera is an undisputably fascinating city. Appreciated by tourists from all over the world, this town in historic Lucania is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What makes Matera so captivating? Those that visit it immediately have the sensation of walking through a life-size Nativity scene. And it is not a coincidence that this "Second Bethlehem" was chosen for the making of such films as The Passion of the Christ. The particular bread from Matera has long been the city's symbol. Its form and unique taste are the fruit of ancient culture and tradition that still live on today.

Typical of the Lazio coastline and the areas of Rome, Viterbo and Latina, the Roman artichoke was the first vegetable in Italy with Protected Geographical Indication at the EU level. It has an age-old tradition, with recognised therapeutic properties. From December to May, it is the undisputed star of regional markets, lending itself to countless recipes. Let's tuck in!

A tasty delicacy enveloped in a light, bright green hue, the Bronte Pistachio is good on its own, or when used in recipes savory and sweet. Whether fresh or dried, it is perhaps the most precious ingredient in Sicilian cuisine, and symbolizes its town of origins, Bronte, in the Province of Catania. Indeed, the pistachio is so important to Bronte’s economy that it has long been graced with the nickname "green gold."

Welcome to Abruzzo, also known as the land of yellow gold, the precious and fragrant saffron (now with a "Denominazione d' Origine Protetta" - Protected Origin Designation) which in addition to flavoring foods, also has significant healing properties. A journey through one of the most beautiful and pristine natural areas of Italy: the highlands of saffron, where the small red flowers turn purple in autumn, painting the fields and creating a unique panorama. The area of cultivation and production of this spice extend through the province of L’Aquila. An area surrounded by greenery and dotted with villages, across from the Regional Sirente Park and bordered on the north by the National Park of Gran Sasso and the Laga mountains, and on the south by the National Park of Maiella.

This is a journey in Calabria, in the land of red gold, to discover the intense flavours reminiscing of Middle-Eastern influences that have affected the local cuisine. In this region, chilli pepper (peperoncino) is referred to as red gold, and it is queen of the table. Diamante is the capital of the chilli pepper, so much so that it has dedicated an academy to the piparedduzzu (chilli pepper in local dialect) that organizes what is now an internationally-acclaimed annual festival in September: Cinema, art, culture, meetings, debates, satire, music, fashion shows, street performances and lots of food and wine where red gold is always included. This journey starts out in Diamante, the garden of citrons, 8 km of beach and crystal-clear sea and alleyways cheerfully painted with murals. Visitors in this charming little town should try the many sauces and famous n’duja. It’s a sausage flavoured with chilli pepper and is perfect as an appetizer or to season first courses. Lastly, tourists should head to Maierà (8 km from Diamante), where Palazzo Ducale hosts the Museo del Peperoncino (Museum of the Chilli Pepper).